Search hots up for region’s fastest growing companies

Devised and organised by leading North law firm Ward Hadaway, and backed by Greater Manchester Business Week and the Manchester Evening News, the annual awards were started in 2014 and have already proved to be a resounding success.

The Ward Hadaway Greater Manchester Fastest 50 2016 was launched last month and aims to identify and champion companies across Greater Manchester who have achieved the most impressive performances in growing their businesses.

Devised and organised by leading North law firm Ward Hadaway , and backed by Greater Manchester Business Week and the Manchester Evening News, the annual awards were started in 2014 and have already proved to be a resounding success.

Last month saw the start of the search to find the 2016 winners and compile the definitive list of the 50 privately-owned, profit-making businesses, which have seen the biggest annual growth rate in their turnover.

Independent researchers are currently in the middle of crunching the numbers to find the final 50, whose names will be published in A to Z format in Greater Manchester Business Week in the New Year.

Then, at the start of March, an awards ceremony will be held where honours will be handed out to the fastest growing small, medium-sized and large businesses – for companies with annual turnover of up to £5m, between £5m and £15m and over £15m respectively.

One of those three winners will then receive the ultimate accolade of being crowned Greater Manchester’s overall fastest growing business for 2016.

Paul Johnson, executive partner at Ward Hadaway’s Manchester office, said: “The research process to find the Ward Hadaway Greater Manchester Fastest 50 for 2016 is already well advanced and we are seeing some very interesting names in the initial reckoning.

“Without wanting to spoil the surprise, I think we are in for a terrific Fastest 50 next year which will demonstrate just how vibrant and healthy the region’s economy is and what a wide variety of successful businesses we have here.

“Previous Fastest 50 Awards have shown the strength in depth, drive and determination to succeed which make this such a great place to do business and I think the 2016 edition will be no exception.

“We are looking forward to continuing the research process over the festive period, ready to reveal the final Fastest 50 for 2016 in the New Year.”

Ward Hadaway, which also has offices in Leeds and Newcastle, has itself enjoyed considerable growth in recent years.

The firm, one of the Top 100 law practices in the UK, saw fee income at its Manchester office jump by 28.5% in the year to the end of April 2015 with all of its main practice areas enjoying significant growth.

Jamie Martin, managing Partner at Ward Hadaway, said: “The business community across the Greater Manchester region has shown great faith in our ability to provide innovative legal solutions to help them achieve their goals.

“As well as being a great way to celebrate and champion business achievement, the Greater Manchester Fastest 50 is also a way for us as a firm to thank the business community in the region and to demonstrate our continuing commitment to it.”

The Ward Hadaway Greater Manchester Fastest 50 is compiled by independent economic researchers using publicly available data from Companies House.

The data is then verified before the definitive Fastest 50 list is published in Greater Manchester Business Week.